Abstract
BACKGROUND: Ambulatory oxygen is an important component of long-term oxygen therapy. Pulse-dose technology conserves oxygen and thus increases the operation time of a portable oxygen system.
METHODS: We tested 4 ambulatory oxygen systems (Helios, HomeFill, FreeStyle, and the compressed-oxygen cylinder system we regularly provide for long-term oxygen therapy at our Veterans Affairs hospital) with 39 subjects with stage-IV chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Each subject performed one 6-min walk test with each oxygen system, and we measured blood oxygen saturation (via pulse oximetry [SpO2]), heart rate, and modified Borg dyspnea score, and surveyed the subjects' preferences about the oxygen systems. We also studied whether the 2 systems that provide gas with a lower oxygen concentration (from a home concentrator or portable concentrator) showed any evidence of not providing adequate oxygenation.
RESULTS: With all 4 systems the mean pre-walk SpO2 at the prescribed pulse-dose setting was 95–96%. The mean post-walk SpO2 was 88–90% after each of the 4 walk tests. Between the 4 systems there were no statistically significant differences between the pre-walk-versus-post-walk SpO2 (P = .42). With each system, the pre-walk-versus-post-walk SpO2 difference was between −8% and −6%.
CONCLUSIONS: Between these 4 ambulatory oxygen systems there were no significant differences in SpO2, walk time, or walk distance, and there was no evidence of inadequate oxygenation with the 2 systems that provide a lower oxygen concentration.
- long-term oxygen therapy
- exercise
- portable oxygen
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- 6-minute walk test
- liquid oxygen
- portable concentrator
Footnotes
- Correspondence: Shawna L Strickland MEd RRT-NPS, Cardiopulmonary and Diagnostic Sciences, 605 Lewis Hall, University of Missouri School of Health Professions, Columbia MO 65211. E-mail: stricklandsl{at}health.missouri.edu.
- Copyright © 2009 by Daedalus Enterprises Inc.
